Do you want to know what causes cold sores? The answers may surprise you. Read this excellent article to uncover what causes cold sores for you.

The herpes simplex virus is basically what causes cold sores in everyone.

35% of those infected never get a cold sore. For the other 65% of us, repeated outbreaks are common.

If the herpes virus decides to replicate, it will move to the surface and enter your cells there. This destructive virus then forces the cells to create new virus particles.

Swelling of the area occurs as the cells bulge with the new virus. Once full, the cells are destroyed – releasing the virus hoards and creating your cold sore crater.

The herpes simplex virus is the basic cause of all cold sores. But what activates the virus? What causes cold sores in only 65% of those infected?

Here are three main conditions that trigger herpes replication and your cold sore events – triggers that you can easily avoid.

1. YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS TOO WEAK.

The effectiveness of your antibodies determines your immunity to all diseases. Your body needs specific building blocks for creating mighty antibodies.

Your body needs optimal intake of vitamins and minerals from food and supplementation to create robust antibodies.

Cold sores are a warning your immune system is not strong enough to protect you properly. Eat more raw vegetables for the high quality nutrients needed to strengthen your immunity.

You also would be wise to start taking vitamin supplements every day. This may be all you need to do to heal and prevent cold sore misery. But avoid worthless bargain vitamins.

If you do not buy a high quality vitamin supplement, you will not get good results. You want high vitamin B and C content. These vitamins help reduce stress.

2. HIGH ARGININE TO LYSINE RATIO.

There is much news about arginine and lysine in relation to cold sore herpes activity. They are common amino acids important for good health.

Arginine is the protein needed to create new herpes simplex virus. If arginine is scarce, the cell cannot create virus clones – and no cold sore will appear.

Herpes virus cannot be created with lysine. Your cells store both lysine and arginine but the more you have of one, the less room for the other.

Flooding your body tissues with lysine will help push arginine out of the cells. You can eat fish and dairy products, but lysine supplements are the easiest way for stopping your cold sore marathon.

3. YOUR pH LEVEL IS ACID.

You are at peak health when your pH level is alkaline. The pH scale measures 1 through 14 with 7 being neutral. Above 7 is alkaline and below 7 is acid.

Your body works hard to maintain pH levels around 7.4. When you drop below 6.5, you are inviting illness – and creating the right conditions for another cold sore.

The more acidic, the lower your oxygen levels. This creates the perfect breeding ground for the herpes simplex virus. Soda pop and white sugar are acid causing foods to be avoided.

Cold sore outbreaks are most frequent during winter because of the many acid-causing factors. These include cold temperatures, spending more time indoors and drinks like coffee and cocoa.

Avoid acid creating food and stress situations. Eat more green vegetables – asparagus is excellent for this. Also, vitamin stores often carry kits for raising your pH to healthy levels.

If you want to know what causes cold sores, there is much more we could talk about if we had the time and space here.

However, the three specific causes you have just read in this article will likely go a long way in determining what causes cold sores for you and how to be cold sore free for life.